Town holds second reading on annexation, property purchases

During a special called meeting Monday, Williamston Town Council held second reading on ordinances to purchase two tracts of property in town and another property easement on the edge of town that will allow future growth and economic development, according to Williamston Mayor Mack Durham.

First reading on the ordinances was held in a special called meeting held last Monday. The purchase of the properties at 209 Mauldin Street and 526 West Main Street were recommended in the town’s Community Master Plan. The plan is part of a revitalization and economic development comprehensive master plan the town formulated in conjunction with the Envision Williamston program.

The Mauldin Street property is being purchased for $10,000, while the West Main property will be purchased for $28,000.

According to Mayor Durham the properties will give the town two pieces of property for right of way to extend Cherokee Road to West Main Street, creating a four way intersection at Prince St.

With a bare qurum of three members, council approved the two ordinances which simultaneously amended the 2016-17 budget to allow for the expenditures.

Both properties will be purchased by funds in the town’s general fund account and are contingent to the contracts being signed.

Council also approved second reading on two ordianances to annex property. The properties will be zoned Highway Commercial (HC).

The annexation of property at 14-28 Beaverdam Road will extend the town limits to include the shopping center where Deals Galore and Papa John’s Pizza are located.

The other property at 304 Beaverdam Road is adjacent to the shopping center and is the former Chastain property. Zoning on the property was recently changed by council to Highway Commercial. Plans are for a warehouse storage for Deals Galore to be built on it.

Council also approved the purchase of a utility easement on the properties.

The town is paying $160,000 for a twenty foot right-of-way around all four corners of the property. The purchase will allow the town to install water/sewer lines to promote economic development for the town of Williamston, Mayor Durham said.